The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-10-20
TO PROTECT THE COTTON.
ACTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL TO
PREVENT FIRES.

The Tightening of Uncovered Infiam-
mable Merchandise and Smoking
on Vessels Prohibited by Ordinance
The Police Instructed to Rigidly
Enforce the Provisions of the New
Law.
The threatened increase of rates on cotton
by the insurance companies, and the danger
of boycott against the port unless meas
ures are taken to prevent the recurrence of
the disastrous fires of the past two or three
weeks, was the subject Of talk on the Bay
yesterday. Cotton men realize the necessity
for prompt and effective action. The mat
ter has been placed before the city authori-
ties, and efforts are being made to reduce
the heavy risk which prompted the action
taken by the National Underwriters Asso-
citation.
| TO ENFORCE THE LAW.
BY direction of Alderman McDonough,
Chairman OF the Committee on Harbor and
Wharves, large placards bearing the ordi-
nance passed March IL, 1885, prohibiting
smoking on vessels and on the wharves are
| being put up about the wharves and sheds
along the river front, from the Ocean
Steamship Company's wharves to the
wharves of the Savannah, Florida and
| Western railway. The police force has
been instructed to strictly enforce the ordi-
nance. Copies have also been placed in
charge of the Harbor Master with instruc-
tions to deliver them to masters of vessels
arriving in port.
The enforcement of this ordinance, said
a leading cotton factor, will greatly reduce
the fire risk, but until the lighterage of un-
| covered cotton, and the carrying of parlor
matches by longshoremen and people on
the wharves is stopped, a recurrence of the
past two weeks disasters must be expected
at any time.
THE LIGHTERAGE QUESTION.
President Smith, of the light
erage company, and Gen. Alexander had
lengthy conference yesterday, in regard
to covering the lighters with tarpaulins, the
result of which, Capt Smith stated last
night, points to a satisfactory arrangement.
He also stated that the lighterage company
| recognizes the necessity of covering its
| lighters, but that it will involve an expendi-
ture Of upward of $1,000 for the thirty
| lighters which the company controls, be-
sides the additional cost of labor in taking
care of the tarpaulins, which the company's
| present contract with the railroad and the
| Cotton Press Association does not call for
| 1t would necessitate also an additional cost
| 10 the railroad company and the Cotton
Press Association. Capt. Smith is
willing to meet the railroad half way.
SETTLED BY THE COUNCIL.
The matter, however, was fully settled last
night by the passage of an ordinance intro
duced in the City Council by Alderman
Bogart, providing for the protection of cot
ton and other merchandise while being
loaded or unloaded, or transported
on the river, by requiring that it be
covered, and by prohibiting smoking. The
ordinance, by unanimous consent, was
ordered to a second reading and was passed
by unanimous vote. 1t provides that all
persons engaged in Tightening or other
wise transporting cotton, turpentine,
rosin, hay, straw or any other
| inhammable merchandise on the
| river or anywhere within the limits over
which the City Council has jurisdiction
must cover the same with tarpaulins or other
substantial material 1t also prohibits
smoking on board of vessels under a pen
| atty of fine and Imprisonment, the former
not to exceed $780, and the latter not more
than thirty days.
The enforcement of this ordinance cotton
men say, will largely diminish the fire risk
and will satisfy the underwriters that meas
ureS are being taken in that direction.